Shelf bag stabilizer



May 18 1965 R. s. BLOUGH 3,184,273

SHELF BAG STABILIZER /NVE/Vrol? ,Qa/VAL@ 5. Bmw/f May 18, 1965 R. s.BLoUGH 3,184,273

SHELF BAG STABILIZER Filed Jan. 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVE/VTOR,Qa/VAL@ 5. BL @06H Arrows/91 United States Patent O Iowa Filed Jan. 23,1963, Ser. No. 253,420 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-6) The present inventionrelates to storage bags and more particularly to a suspension or hangertype bag provided with storage shelves for shoes and the like andwherein a stabilizer arm is provided to maintain a level position of theshelves.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved shelf bag andstabilizer arm for holding the shelf bag in a substantially levelposition.

Another object of the invention is .to provide means for increasing thestability of a shelf vbag suspended from a supporting member.

A further object of the invention is to provide, for a shelf bag havingaL wire frame suspended from a support, a stabilizer arm which isreadily connected to the wire frame and adjustably connected to thesupport for holding the wire trame in a level position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, for a shelf bagsuspended from a support, a stabilizer arm which minimizes the tiltingand rotational movement of the shelf bag.

. An additional object o-f the invention is to provide a rugged shelfbag stabilizer arm having a minimum number of parts and which isrelatively simple and economical in construction and reliable andefficient in use.

The exact nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will be readily apparent from the consideration ofthe following specification relating to the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a shelf bag in assembled relation withthe stabilizer arm of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stabilizer arm of FIG. l inassembled relation with a shelf bag having its cover removed toillustrate the wire frame structure and the support rod therefor;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the stabilizer arm shown inFIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a fragmentary portionof the top of the shelf bag with parts broken away to show theconnection between the shelf bag and the stabilizer arm; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified connection betweenthe wire frame structure of the shelf bag and the stabilizer arm.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. l a shelf bag assemblysuspended from a horizontal rod 11, such as the clothes hanging rod of aclothes closet. The shelf bag assembly 10 comprises a rectangular shapedwire frame 12 having a central cross member 13 and end cross members 14and 16. Positioned over the wire frame 12 is a cover or bag 17 of anelongated rectangular shape and having side walls 18 formed fromtransparent plastic material which are reinforced at the corners withribbons of reinforced fabric material 19. The bag 17 is opened andclosed by means of a longitudinally extending zipper 21 which operatesto open and close one of the side walls 1S,

The top Iof the bag 17 is covered with a quilted fabric 22 which extendsover the upper end of the zipper 21 to form a protective flap 23. A pairof hooks Z4 project upwardly through the top 22 and around the rod 11 tosupport the shelf bag assembly 10 -on the support rod 11. As shown inFIG. 2, the hooks 24 are pivotally connected to the central cross member13 of the wire frame 12. This connection permits the wire frame 12 Heeand cover or bag 17 supported thereon to tilt and rotate in a horizontalplane.

A shelf assembly, indicated generally by the numeral 2S, is positionedwithin the bag 17 and is adapted to support articles 26, suoli as shoes,in separate horizontal planes. The shelf assembly 25 comprises a.plurality of flat shelves 27 interconnected by means o-f cords 28 eX-tending through the corner sections of each shelf. The top section ofeach cord is connected to a corner of the wire frame 12 by means of asnap hook 29 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Each corner of the wire frame 12 isprovided with a downwardly extended recess 30 for receiving the hooks 29to maintain the hooks at the respective corners of the wire frame. Asshown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal or vertical location of the respectiveshelves 27 is determined by the position of supporting knots 31 in eachof the cords 28. The knots 31 are below the respective corners of theshelves 27 and may tbe moved to vary the vertical position of theshelves.

A stabilizer arm 32 is connected to the mid-section 14a of the frontcross member 14 of the wire frame 12 and to the rod 11 to hold theshelves 27 in a horizontal position. As shown in FIG. 3, the arm 32 hasa V-shape and is a reverse bent metal strap member 33 having legs 34 and36 which define outwardly convex free vend sections 37 and 33. In orderto increase the bending strength of the legs 34 and 36, each leg isformed with a longitudinally extended valley 34a and 36a thus providingthe legs with a curved transverse cross section. The end sections 37 and33 are oppositely curved and terminate in tab portions 42 and 43 havingaxially aligned holes 44 for receiving a clamping bolt 46. A secondclamping bolt 47 projects through axially aligned holes 48 adjacent theopposite sides of the curved sections 37 and 38. The opposite end orapex 39 is U-shaped and forms a pocket 41 and functions as a hingeconnection for the legs 34 and 36. The portion of the legs 34 and 36adjacent the apex end 39 are bent or nipped toward each other to form apair of oppositely curved and opposing transverse ribs and 41111 whichrestrict the opening into the pocket 41.

In order to connect the stabilizer arm 32 with the front cross wire 14of the wire frame 12, the fabric top 22 of the bag 17, as shown in FIG.4, is provided with a hole 43 adjacent the mid portion 14a of the endcross wire 14. The peripheral edge of .the top 22 dening the hole 49 isreinforced 'by a ribbon S1 which extends around the edge and is fastenedto the top 22 by means of thread `stitches 52.

The curved apex section 39 of the stabilizer arm 32 projects through theopening 49 and the legs 34 and 36 extend around a diametrical sector ofthe mid-portion 14a of the front cross wire 14 of the wire frame 12. Thepocket 41 between the legs 34 and 36 of the curved apex section 39firmly engages the portion 14a of the wire 14 thereby connecting theWire frame 12 with the arm 32. The wire 14 is held in the pocket 41 bythe transverse ribs 40 and 40a which function as stops to prevent thewire from moving up between the legs 34 and 36.

Referring to FIG. 2, the legs 34 and 36 project upwardly toward ,the rod11 and are of a length to position the outwardly convex curved sections34 and 36 on opposite `sides |of the portion 11a of the rod 11 betweenthe hooks 24. The legs 34 and 36 of the stabilizer arm 32 form a linkwhich has a length correlated to the dimensions of the wire frame 12 sothat in the assembled position the wire frame 12 is held in asubstantial horizontal plane. The stabilizer arm 32 is frictionallysecured to the rod 11 by turning down the bolts 46 and 47 to clamp theoppositely curved sections 34 and 36 on the rod 11.

In use the shelf bag assembly 1t) is normally supported 3 from the`horizontal rod 11 byplaeing the hook members 24 about the rod 11. Inthis position the shelf bag assembly hangs vertically below the rod 11and pivots about the horizontal axis. With the clamping bolts y46,

and 47 removed from theV stabilizer'arm 32, one of the legs 34 and 36thereof is moved tlinough the hole 49m the top 22 of the bag 17 andplaced under the front end cross Wire member y14. The outwardly convexcurved sections 37 and 38 are then positioned around the portion 11a ofthe rod 11 which extends between the hooks 24'.;

After the angular positionof the stabilizer arm 32 has been ascertainedto position the top wire frame12 in a substantially horizontal plane,the clamping bolts 46' and 47 are inserted through the holes 48 and 49and turn down to frictionally clamp the legs 34 and 36 to the rod 11tirThe shelf assemblyV within the bag 17 is now ready to ybe loaded witharticles. to place the articles'near the center of each shelf in orderto balance the shelf assemblyZS as the stabilizer arm 32 Y prevents thetilting of the shelf assembly when it is Vnot uniformly loaded. Y

It is not necessary, therefore, l

The modified shelf vbag and stabilizer arm, shown in Y FIG. 5, comprisesa rectangular-shaped top wire frame53 having a transverse center VWire*54 vand transverse end Wires 56. and 57. The frame 53 is pivotallysupported by a pair of upwardly extended hook members 58 and 59 whichengage a horizontal support rod 61. [The lower ends of thev hook members58 andr59 Vare pivotallyconnected torspace'd portions 62 and 63 of thecenterwire 54. A shelf assembly 64, which is similar in construction tothe shelf ,assembly 25 shown in FIG. 1, is connected to the corners ofthe t-op wire frame 53 and hangs below the wire frame 53 formingvertically spaced shelves. Y

In order to limit the pivotal movement of the wire frame 53 and increasethe stability of the shelf assembly 64, a reverse bent stabilizer armk66 extends around the end wire 56y and is clamped to theV Vsupportrod61 form-Y ing a substantially rigid link between the wire-frame 53A andthe support rod 61. The arm 66 isidentical to the Y stabilizer arm 32.shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. increase the transverse stability of the shelfbag, the midportion 67 of the-` end wire 56 -is offset or upwardly bentto form a recess for the curved apex section 68 kof the V-shapedstabilizer armA 66.. The recess formedby the offset 67 cooperates withthe arm 66 to inhibit the rota tional movement of the wire frame 53 andshelf assembly 64 about a vertical axis. The upper end 69 of the arm 66is clamped about the rod 61 by a pair ofV bolts 71 andY VIn order to 72which extend through the legs lof the V-shaped arm 66 on opposite sidesof the rod 61. The arm 66 forms a substantially rigid connection withthe rod 61 thereby providing a rigid link which grips the mid-portion 67of the Yend wire 56 to prevent the tilting `of the top wire frame 53 andshelf assembly 64 about a horizontal axis. While there have 'been'showmdescribed, and pointed out the fundamental novel features 'of theinvention, it isV to be understood that various omission-s,substitutions, changes in form, and details of the apparatus illustratedmay be made by those skilled in the art, without departing 'Y asindicated by the scope of the following (c) apairofspaced hook'meanspivotally connected to said center section of the wire frame, said hookmeans extending over gsaid support to connect the iframe with thesupport,

(d)` article supporting shelvesl suspended `from said Wire frame,

(e) an ,elongated reverse -bent'arm means having a curved apex and apair of legs each formedfwith an outwardly convex curved section, saidcurved apex extending ,through the VYhole in the covering means andabout themid-portion of the end section of said wire frame, said curvedsection of each leg Vextended about a portion kof saidis-upport betweensaid hook means, and Y (f) means connecting the legson opposite sides ofthe support to clamp the curved section of each leg of -said a-rm meanson the support thereby providing a V.rigid arm for holding the wireframe in asubstantially Vhorizontal position,"v with said-legs lying inplanes extendedvlaterally Aof and through said lsupport to ,oppositesides of and reversely inclined rela-4 tive tota plane extendeddiametrically of said support.

V2. In'combination, 'a

' (a) -an elongated cylindrical support,

(b) a shelf baghaving a wire top frame ,including at least one endsection formed with an olset midportion anda centerV section, coveringmeans en- -closing .said frame to dene a storage area, and a shelfassembly fastened to said wire top frame and extended within the storagearea, said covering means having a hole adjacent the offset mid-portionof said end section of the wire top frame, Y

(c) a pair of spaced hookmeans pivotally connected to said centersection of thewire frame, said hook means extendingover said support toconnect the frame with the support, l

(d) article supporting shelves suspended from said Wire top 'fr-ame, p y

(e) 1an elongated reversely Vbent arm means having a lcurved apex and apair of legs, cachleg formed with an outwardly convex curvedfsectionwhich extend-s over said support, said apex extendingabou-t the olfsetmid-portion of rsaid end Vsection of the'wire frame, and Y (f) meansconnecting ,the legs on opposite sides of the support to clampthe curvedsection of each leg of Isaid arm means on the support thereby providinga rigid arm for holding the Wireframe in a substantially horizontalposition, with said legs lying lin planes extended laterally of andthrough said support to opposite sides of and reversely inclinedrelative to a plane extended diametrically of said support.

,Y References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,121,21112/14 Vaughan 312-5 '1,240,654'V 9/17 Bellodi 24-81.3

1,564,918 12/25 Williams. f 1,615,430 1/27 Woodruff 312-6 2,299,02110/42 Hoffman 211-34 2,440,192V 4/48 Cowan 312-6 2,639,819 5/53V Marks312-6 x 2,645,541Y 7/53 Mintz 312-6 2,677,584 5*/54 Schulman 312-5- YFOREIGN `PATENTS 623,673 5/49 Great Britain. 687,427 4/ 30 France.1,129,305 Y 9/56 France.

FRANK SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

2. IN COMBINATION, (A) AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL SUPPORT, (B) A SHELF BAG HAVING A WIRE TOP FRAME INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE END SECTION FORMED WITH AN OFFSET MIDPORTION AND A CENTER SECTION, COVERING MEANS ENCLOSING SAID FRAME TO DEFINE A STORAGE AREA, AND A SHELF ASSEMBLY FASTENED TO SAID WIRE TOP FRAME AND EXTENDED WITHIN THE STORAGE AREA, SAID COVERING MEANS HAVING A HOLE ADJACENT THE OFFSET MID-PORTION OF SAID END SECTION OF THE WIRE TOP FRAME, (C) A PAIR OF SPACED HOOK MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CENTER SECTION OF THE WIRE FRAME, SAID HOOK MEANS EXTENDING OVER SAID SUPPORT TO CONNECT THE FRAME WITH THE SUPPORT, (D) ARTICLE SUPPORTING SHELVES SUSPENDED FROM SAID WIRE TOP FRAME, (E) AN ELONGATED REVERSELY BENT ARM MEANS HAVING A CURVED APEX AND A PAIR OF LEGS, EACH LEG FORMED WITH AN OUTWARDLY CONVEX CURVED SECTION WHICH EXTENDS OVER SAID SUPPORT, SAID APEX EXTENDING ABOUT THE OFFSET MID-PORTION OF SAID END SECTION OF THE WIRE FRAME, AND (F) MEANS CONNECTING THE LEGS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SUPPORT TO CLAMP THE CURVED SECTION OF EACH LEG OF SAID ARM MEANS ON THE SUPPORT THEREBY PROVIDING A RIGID ARM FOR HOLDING THE WIRE FRAME IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION, WITH SAID LEG LYING IN PLANES EXTENDED LATERALLY OF SAID THROUGH SAID SUPPORT TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF AND REVERSELY INCLINED RELATIVE TO A PLANE EXTENDED DIAMETRICALLY OF SAID SUPPORT. 